Ershad unlikely to return before polls

Uncertainty looms over Jatiya Party (JP) chairman HM Ershad's return from Singapore before the next national polls, which are slated for December 30. The JP chief has been suffering from jaundice, which has spread in his blood, top-level JP sources told The Independent yesterday (Sunday).

Sources said Ershad needs full-time rest and treatment to recover from jaundice. Hence, Ershad is not likely to return home from Singapore as per the doctor’s advice, a top-level source of JP told this correspondent on condition on anonymity. “Sir (Ershad) will return home from Singapore after his treatment as soon as possible. But his return depends on his health condition,” Mashiur Rahman Ranga, secretary-general of the JP, who is also the state minister for local government and rural development (LGRD), told The Independent.

ABM Ruhul Amin Howladar, the spokesperson of the JP, said, “There is a possibility of Ershad’s return home on Monday evening through Singapore Airlines as per the previous schedule.”

However, he, too, did not confirm the JP chief’s return from Singapore. “I have to confirm it,” he said in reply to a query.

Prof. Delwar Hossain, presidium member and JP’s election cell chief, said, “Party chief Ershad was scheduled to return home between December 22 and 24 from Singapore.” It cannot be confirmed when the party chief landed in Bangladesh from Singapore after treatment, he said in reply to a query.

The JP, headed by former military dictator HM Ershad, is at present an ally of the Grand Alliance led by the Awami League (AL). He is currently undergoing treatment in Singapore. Amid swirling speculation over Ershad’s illness before the elections, the JP chief left Dhaka for Singapore on December 11 by a Singapore Airlines flight. A fresh wave of discussions began about the “illness” of the JP chairman when it was learned that he was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) during the nomination process for the elections.

A number of JP leaders have accused Ershad and Howlader of charging them exorbitant sums of money for nominations, which Howlader has denied.

There was a sudden change in the JP after Howlader’s nomination for Patuakhali-1 seat was rejected. The secretary-general, a close confidante of the party chief, was replaced by Mashiur Rahman Ranga, known as a “close aide” of the government.

On December 6, the JP chairman suddenly came to his political office in Banani and spoke for a few minutes from inside his car with leaders and activists from the party. There he claimed that he had been barred from getting medical treatment and also from travelling abroad.

Meanwhile, amid unhappiness prevailing among JP leaders and activists over 26 seats allocated by the ruling alliance, the JP announced around 150 candidates are contesting alongside the AL nominees.

The move, which can potentially jeopardise the chances of the Grand Alliance candidates, has sparked anger among the grassroots activists of the AL.

Ershad unlikely to return before polls

Uncertainty looms over Jatiya Party (JP) chairman HM Ershads return from Singapore before the next national polls, which are slated for December 30. The JP chief has been suffering from jaundice, which has spread in his blood, top-level JP sources told The Independent yesterday (Sunday). Sources said Ershad needs full-time rest and treatment to recover from jaundice. Hence, Ershad is not likely to return home from Singapore as per the doctors advice, a top-level source of JP told this correspondent on condition on anonymity. Sir (Ershad) will return home from Singapore after his treatment as soon as possible. But his return depends on his health condition, Mashiur Rahman Ranga, secretary-general of the JP, who is also the state minister for local government and rural development (LGRD), told The Independent. ABM Ruhul Amin Howladar, the spokesperson of the JP, said, There is a possibility of Ershads return home on Monday evening through Singapore Airlines as per the previous schedule. However, he, too, did not confirm the JP chiefs return from Singapore. I have to confirm it, he said in reply to a query. Prof. Delwar Hossain, presidium member and JPs election cell chief, said, Party chief Ershad was scheduled to return home between December 22 and 24 from Singapore. It cannot be confirmed when the party chief landed in Bangladesh from Singapore after treatment, he said in reply to a query. The JP, headed by former military dictator HM Ershad, is at present an ally of the Grand Alliance led by the Awami League (AL). He is currently undergoing treatment in Singapore. Amid swirling speculation over Ershads illness before the elections, the JP chief left Dhaka for Singapore on December 11 by a Singapore Airlines flight. A fresh wave of discussions began about the illness of the JP chairman when it was learned that he was admitted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) during the nomination process for the elections. A number of JP leaders have accused Ershad and Howlader of charging them exorbitant sums of money for nominations, which Howlader has denied. There was a sudden change in the JP after Howladers nomination for Patuakhali-1 seat was rejected. The secretary-general, a close confidante of the party chief, was replaced by Mashiur Rahman Ranga, known as a close aide of the government. On December 6, the JP chairman suddenly came to his political office in Banani and spoke for a few minutes from inside his car with leaders and activists from the party. There he claimed that he had been barred from getting medical treatment and also from travelling abroad. Meanwhile, amid unhappiness prevailing among JP leaders and activists over 26 seats allocated by the ruling alliance, the JP announced around 150 candidates are contesting alongside the AL nominees. The move, which can potentially jeopardise the chances of the Grand Alliance candidates, has sparked anger among the grassroots activists of the AL.